And what would drive a mother to kill her newborn? The
killing of a child by its parent is not as rare as you might think.
According to research a startling pattern of trauma and
pregnancy denial incites some young women to do the unthinkable.
In a shocking case, a 24-year-old from Mbamba Village under Chief Gampu in Tsholotsho, Matabeleland North province who was employed as a domestic worker in Kandana Village in Plumtree allegedly teamed up with her new husband to kill her 11-month-old child from her previous relationship.
Desperate to become husband and wife, Leaflet Ndlovu and
Trust Mitsi reportedly connived to kill the former’s daughter from her previous
relationship.
Circumstances are that on 8 September at around 10pm
Leaflet allegedly connived with her boyfriend Mitsi who is still at large to
strangle her 11-month-old baby but she did not die.
It is reported that the following day Leaflet, in a bid to
cover her failed evil mission, contacted Givemore Ndlovu, her employer’s
younger brother and told him that the child was not feeling well.
When Givemore came to see the child he reportedly found her
groaning in pain and her left leg was swollen.
It is alleged that the following day Givemore took Leaflet
and the baby to Bakisani Gambule’s homestead to seek assistance from Hleziphi
Ncube, a community health worker since Givemore thought the child was
dehydrated.
Ncube reportedly refused to assist them claiming that the
child was not dehydrated and suspected that the child could have been assaulted
or fallen from the bed and advised them to take her to hospital.
On their way back the child reportedly died and Givemore
went and reported the matter to the police who attended the scene.
On examining the child, the police reportedly noticed that
her left foot was swollen.
They ferried the body to Plumtree District Hospital
mortuary where a post mortem was conducted and results revealed that the cause
of the child’s death was due to impaired breathing, strangulation (constriction
of the neck).
Investigations after the post mortem results led to the
arrest of Leaflet who has since appeared before Plumtree magistrate Joshua
Nembaware facing a murder charge.
She was not formally charged and was remanded in custody to
2 October and the magistrate advised her to apply for bail at the High Court.
Arnold Mudekunye appeared for the State. B Metro
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